Sterilizer for dental handpieces



June 3-;1924. 1,496,426

Y P. J. L. NEMMERS STERILIZER FOR DENTAL HANDPIBCES.

Filed April 2, 1923 0 Invenm 1 6667 J l flfmzmens" i atented June 3, i924.

s'rarss PETER J. L. n-nraivinns, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

, STERILI ZER FOR DENTAL HANDPI-EGES.

.tpplica tion filed April 2, 1923. Serial 110.62%),267.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PETER J. L. NEM- MERS. a citizen of the Unitec States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois. have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sterilizers for Dental Handpieces, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to a sterilizer for dental hand pieces and particularly to a sterilizer for hand pieces for holding the tooth engaging tool or drill piece. It has for one object to provide an inclosure and sterilizer for such hand pieces which are irremovable from the dental engine or which are difiicult to remove. Another object is to provide a sterilizer which is adaptable not merely to the irremovable hand piece but to other attachments which may be secured to it, and which may, by the use oi my invention, be sterilized without removal. Other objects will appear from time to time in the course of the specification and claims.

I illustrate my invention more or less diaings wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the sterilizer casing, illustrating it in place; and Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Like parts are illustrated by like symbols throughout the specification and d awings.

A is a straight shafted dental hand piece adapted to be more or less permanently secured to any suitable dental engine, the de tails of which form no part of the present invention. Shown in dotted lines in Figure l is the grinding disc A which may be substituted. for the manual drill.

B is a substantially cylindrical shell adapted to inclose said hand piece and provided at its lower end with a removable cap C having thereon a perforated container D- adapted to inclose cotton or any other suitable carrying medium which may be impregnated with any suitable disinfectant. The upper end of the cylinder is tapered and reduced, as at E, and is provided with a door F, hinged as at F and provided with any suitable securing snap at F The door F is illustrated in the drawings as hinged to swing about a pivot parallel with the long axis of the casing. Obviously it might be hinged along an axis perpendicular to the long axis of the casing.

The entire cylinder is provided with a grammatically in the accompanying draw cork, rubber or other suitable, and prefer- H is any suitable lid or gate which may be snapped over the top of the casing when it is removed from the dental engine to prevent the escape of the disinfectant fumes.

It will be realized that while I have shown an operative device, many changes might be made in the shape, proportion and material, and in the number and disposition of parts without departing from the spirit of my invention. The casing may be of metal with a cork or a rubber or fibrous lining, or the entire device might be made of hard rubber or of any suitable material adapted to resist the disinfectant fumes and the interstices may be provided with any suitable liner or packing to prevent the escape of the disinfectant fumes.

The essential point of my invention is that I provide a substantially air tight casing which may be quickly mounted upon and quickly removed from the hand piece, and which incloses a sterilizing or disinfecting element.

I claim:

1. A sterilizer for dental hand pieces adapted to be secured to the hand piece while it is secured to a dental engine, comprising a casing adapted to enclosethe hand piece and having a gate arranged to open the casing to permit the hand piece to be inserted within the casing and to close against the hand piece after it has been so inserted, means for securing the gate in closed position, and a sterilizing agent confined within the casing.

2. A sterilizer for dental hand pieces adapted to be secured to the hand piece while it is secured to a dental engine, comprising a casing the interior diameter of which is substantially greater than the normal diameter of the hand piece, the upper end of the casing being substantially constricted to approximately the normal diameter of the upper end of the hand piece,

and having a hinged portion to give entrance to the casing and adapted when closed to frictionally engage the hand piece and a sterilizing agent contained Within the casing.

3. In a sterilizer for dental hand pieces adapted to be secured thereto While the hand piece is secured to a dental engine, comprising an enclosing casing formed With an 1 opening adapted to permit the entrance of the dental hand piece, and a hinged part adapted to close the said opening and engage the hand piece to maintain the casing closed thereon, and a sterilizing agent confined Within the casing.

Signed at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 30th day of March, 1923.

PETER J. L. NEMIIERS. 

